COVID-19 PCR test cost in Columbus, OH
In Columbus, OH, 16 hospitals list a cash price for COVID-19 PCR test (SARS-CoV-2 lab test): from $103.00 to $168.35, with a median of $159.90. The lowest listed price is at Mount Carmel St Ann's — $56.90 less than the median here. Across Ohio, the median is $141.00 at 96 hospitals.
Cash prices at 16 facilities across 10 cities for code 87635, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Oct 22, 2025 and Apr 1, 2026.
Lowest$103.00Mount Carmel St Ann's
Median$159.90half pay less
Highest$168.35in this market
Difference1.6×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Columbus, OH.
median
Lowest $103.00Highest $168.35
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Carmel St Ann's lowest Westerville, OH · (614) 546-4034 PR Infectious Agent Dna/Rna Sars-Cov-2 Amplified Probe Technique | $103.00 | $103.00 | $35.92–$103.00 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus, OH · (614) 722-2000 NCVQLT INFECTIOUS AGENT DETECTION BY NUCLEIC ACID (DNA OR RNA) S | $112.50 | $125.00 | $58.75–$122.50 | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus, OH · (614) 722-2000 CHG IADNA SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 AMPLIFIED PROBE TQ | $112.50 | $125.00 | $81.25–$93.75 | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Morrow County Hospital Mount Gilead, OH · (419) 946-5015 Amplifed DNA or RNA probe detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) antigen | $113.69 | $174.90 | $41.32–$169.65 | 35% | Oct 22, 2025 source file |
| Mount Carmel Grove City Grove City, OH PR Infectious Agent Dna/Rna Sars-Cov-2 Amplified Probe Technique | $116.00 | $116.00 | $35.92–$116.00 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Grady Memorial Hospital Delaware, OH · (740) 368-5145 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method St | $151.45 | $233.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Grady Memorial Hospital Delaware, OH · (740) 368-5145 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method So | $151.45 | $233.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Grady Memorial Hospital Delaware, OH · (740) 368-5145 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method Mb | $151.45 | $233.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Diley Ridge Medical Center Canal Winchester, OH · (614) 838-7911 HC POCT Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$632.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel Grove City Grove City, OH HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$632.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel Grove City Grove City, OH HC POCT Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$632.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel Grove City Grove City, OH HC Warde 3000859 Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$632.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel St Ann's Westerville, OH · (614) 546-4034 HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$632.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel St Ann's Westerville, OH · (614) 546-4034 HC Warde 3000859 Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$632.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel St Ann's Westerville, OH · (614) 546-4034 HC POCT Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$632.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel Dublin Dublin, OH · (380) 898-9000 HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$246.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel Dublin Dublin, OH · (380) 898-9000 HC Warde 3000859 Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$246.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel Dublin Dublin, OH · (380) 898-9000 HC POCT Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$246.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital New Albany, OH · (614) 775-6600 HC Warde 3000859 Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$632.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital New Albany, OH · (614) 775-6600 HC POCT Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$632.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital New Albany, OH · (614) 775-6600 HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$632.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel East Columbus, OH · (614) 234-5000 HC POCT Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$632.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel East Columbus, OH · (614) 234-5000 HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$632.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mount Carmel East Columbus, OH · (614) 234-5000 HC Warde 3000859 Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$632.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Diley Ridge Medical Center Canal Winchester, OH · (614) 838-7911 HC Warde 3000859 Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$632.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Diley Ridge Medical Center Canal Winchester, OH · (614) 838-7911 HC Infectious Agent Nucleic Acid Amplified Probe Sars-Cov-2/Covid-19 | $159.90 | $246.00 | $41.00–$632.00 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Berger Hospital Circleville, OH · (740) 420-8008 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method So | $162.50 | $250.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Berger Hospital Circleville, OH · (740) 420-8008 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method St | $162.50 | $250.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Berger Hospital Circleville, OH · (740) 420-8008 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method Mb | $162.50 | $250.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Grant Medical Center Columbus, OH · (614) 566-9164 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method St | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Grant Medical Center Columbus, OH · (614) 566-9164 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method So | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Grant Medical Center Columbus, OH · (614) 566-9164 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method Mb | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Grove City Methodist Grove City, OH Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method St | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Grove City Methodist Grove City, OH Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method So | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Grove City Methodist Grove City, OH Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method Mb | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Pickerington Methodist Hospital Pickerington, OH Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method St | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Pickerington Methodist Hospital Pickerington, OH Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method So | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Pickerington Methodist Hospital Pickerington, OH Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method Mb | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Doctors Hospital Columbus, OH · (614) 544-2136 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method So | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Dublin Methodist Hospital Dublin, OH · (614) 544-8000 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method Mb | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Dublin Methodist Hospital Dublin, OH · (614) 544-8000 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method So | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Dublin Methodist Hospital Dublin, OH · (614) 544-8000 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method St | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Riverside Methodist Hospital Columbus, OH · (614) 566-5000 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method St | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Riverside Methodist Hospital Columbus, OH · (614) 566-5000 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method Mb | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Riverside Methodist Hospital Columbus, OH · (614) 566-5000 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method So | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Doctors Hospital Columbus, OH · (614) 544-2136 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method Mb | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Doctors Hospital Columbus, OH · (614) 544-2136 Hc Sars-Cov-2 Covid-19 Amp Prb High Troughput Method St | $168.35 | $259.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $103.00, median $159.90, highest $168.35 — a 1.6× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 15 facilities here, median $159.90. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 6 of 8 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What it is
This is the lab (PCR or similar amplification) test for the virus that causes COVID-19. It is more sensitive than a rapid antigen test and is often required before some procedures or travel.
What the price covers
The price usually covers running the test on a swab sample; the collection may be billed separately.